Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-08-05
HAzING AT WEST POINT.
Methods by Which the "Yearlings" Make
Life Miserable for the "Plebes."

Methods by Which the "Yeariings" Make
Life Miserable for the "Plebes."
The yearlings have numerous ways of
amusing themselves with the plebes. One
of their favorite tricks is to put shoe on
the floor and make three or four plebes
get on their hands and knees around it,
barking and scratching as if they were
killing a rat. Splitting out candles is an
other amusement. A lighted candle is
put on the ground and a row of plebes,
stationed a short distance off, endeavor t.
spit it out. Another thing considered
very funny by the yearlings is to make a
plebe spoon a pillow, that is, hug and
kiss it, and talk all sorts of love nonsense
to it, while the yearlings stand around
and almost split their sides with laughter
The plebes are not allowed to smile while
doing these ridiculous things. If they do
they are at once informed that these
things are not being done for their amuse-
ment, and that they must stop that
smiling If the poor fellows don't man
age to check their mirth they are pun
ished until they no longer feel the least
inclination to smile.
The yearlings have various methods of
Furnishing unruly plebes. The sitting
up exercises and ''double time are con.
sidered very good for bringing a refrac-
tory plebe to his senses, and are freely
used for that purpose.
The "bayonet chair" is an instrument
of torture occasionally resorted to. This
chair, upon which the unwilling plebe
takes his seat, is nothing more nor less
than the sharp end of bayonet. which is
placed upright on the floor, point up.
have been punished this way myself, and
my experience goes to show that it is a
big strain on a fellow S legs to keep from
getting hurt In fact, it is just like being
seated in a chair without touching the
chair. Scarcely less comfortable than
this latter method of punishment is spin
ming on bowl, which is done as follows:
A bowl being turned upside down. the
plebe is made to take his seat in the small
ring which encircles its bottom, and bal
ance himself by locking his arms under
his legs. thus lifting his feet off the floor.
His tormentors then take him by the back
of the neck and spin HIM round and
round until he loses his balance and falls
off.
The question why do the fourth class
men submit to these outrages ~ is often
asked, and it is easily answered. They
submit through fear of the reporting
power held by the cadet officers. A great
majority of the boys, on entering the
United States military academy. are en-
tirely ignorant of military duties, and
even those who have attended other mill
tary schools find it impossible to get along
for the first three or four months without
numerous accidental violations of some Of
the thousands of minute rules and regu-
lations which constitute West Point dis
cipline If plebe shows any disposition
to resist the tyranny and cruelty of the
upper class men. who would constitute
themselves his masters, he is not only re-
ported for all the mistakes which he may
accidentally make, but the cadet officers
lay all sorts of traps for him and get hin,
into troubles which will soon roll his col
umns of dement's up to an alarming
height. Any cadet that gets 125 demerit:
between January and June is dismissed
and if the cadet officers so choose they
can always give plebe reports enough
to get more than that number.
On the other hand, if plebe is obedi
ent and faithfully serves his masters, th'
cadet officers will not only overlook ;
great many of his mistakes, but will evel
condescend occasionally to give him som,
valuable advice on how to avoid getting
dement's.
There is but one way in which hazinl
can be broken up at West Point, and tina
way is to put all the cadet officers OF
honor to report all cases of hazing tina
may come to their knowledge. 1t Is i'm
possible to do any hazing without tn
knowledge and consent of these officers
whose duty it is to report all violations o
the academic regulations, hazing included
but who, instead of trying to suppress thi
evil, encourage it and shield the wronI
doors; but if these officers were on homo
to report they would certainly do 50, TO
a violation of honor is considered by Yves
Point cadets the most ignoble crime tina
man can be guilty of.-Ex-Cadet in New
Orleans Times Democrat.